Inflating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A small and lightweight rapid gas inflating apparatus for inflating a paraglider with gas having a minimum of temperature and moisture content. A generated propellant gas is passed through a baffle plate, bed of charcoal for reduction in water vapor content, then radially dispersed through a coolant of ammonium carbonate and passed through a gas filtering anhydros body for absorption of water before being deflectively delivered in the parawing of the paraglider.

Matted tates atent n91 eranshian et a1,

HNFLATHNG APPARATUS Inventors: George Meransliian; Raymond C.

Sutter; @syp Nimylowycz, all of Philadelphia, Pa; Wihner White,Haddonfield, NJ.

The United States ot America as represented by the Secretary oi theArmy, Washington, DC.

Filed: Apr. 6, 1973 Appl. N0.: 348,810

Assignee:

US. Cl 244/146, 23/281, 102/39, 244/D1G. 2, 280/150 AB int. C1 801i 7/00Field of Search 23/281; 9/321; 114/54; 137/561; 102/39; 244/1316. 2;280/150 AB Reterences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1970 I Leising eta1. 23/281 11am, 22, 197A 3,558,285 1/1971 Ciccone et a1 23/2813,618,981 11/1971 Leising et a1. 23/281 3,733,180 5/1973 Hcineclc et a123/281 Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Assistant Examiner-George 1.Walton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward .1. Kelly; Herbert Berl; WilliamSommer [57] AhS'lIiPiAtCT A small and lightweight rapid gas inflatingapparatus for inflating a paraglider with gas having a minimum oftemperature and moisture content. A generated propellant gas is passedthrough a baffle plate, bed of charcoal for reduction in water vaporcontent, then radially dispersed through a coolant of ammonium carbonateand passed through a gas filtering anhydros body for absorption of waterbefore being deflectively delivered in the parawing of the paraglider.

8 Ciaims, 1 Drawing lFire rurtnrrnc APPARATUS The invention describedherein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Governmentfor governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royaltythereon.

This invention relates to inflating apparatus, and more particularly, toa gas generator secured in the inlet of an inflatable structure.

it is an object of the invention to provide an inflating arrangement foran inflatable structure which is small and lightweight.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement inwhich inflating gas is rapidly delivered with a minimum of temperatureand moisture content.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an arrangementwhich is safe and reliable, and in which the inlet gas is controlled anddelivered at low velocity.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become moreapparent from the following description and accompanying drawing whichis an elevational sectional view of a preferred inflating apparatusembodying the principles of the invention.

The inflating apparatus, shown generally at lltl, includes a propellanttube 111 that is externally threaded adjacent both ends to securethereto the head cap 12 and end cap 13 both of which are centrallyapertured for a purpose to be described. An asbestos insulator 14 coversthe sidewalls of the tube ll and caps l2, 13. Secured to head cap 12 bya plurality of screws 15 is a centrally apertured cylindrical mountingbracket lo the peripheral surface of which is suitably recessed toaccommodate seal ring 17. The forward portion of tube ll is mounted in apair of split cylindrical bracket portions 18 which are secured togetheron assembly by a plurality of appropriate screws 19. Suitable clamps 20,20 secure the tube supporting mounting brackets l6, l8 in longitudinallyspaced relationship within a predetermined flexible material orparawingportion 21 of the inflatable or paraglider structure (not shown).

Secured to the rearwardly extending annular flange 22 on bracket in, asby a plurality of suitable screws 23., is a sonically shaped protector24 for certain elements of the initiator 25 which is threadedly securedin the central aperture of head cap l2. Until the safety pin 26 iswithdrawn through an appropriate opening (not shown) in the protectivecone 24, the operationally required retraction of the initiator firingpin 27 is preeluded. Within the initiator 25, pressure gas leakagerearwardly therethrough is prevented by O-ring seal 28 carried by thefiring pin.

Cylindrical propellant body 34]) has a central passage and is located intube ll forwardly adjacent the centrally apertured igniter 31. Aplurality of boron potas' sium nitrate pellets 32 are positionedintermeidate the igniter 3i and the head cap 12. Preferably, a cellulosenitrate base adhesive and sealing compound secures the pellets 32 to theigniter 31 and also the igniter to the propellant body A loose coconutcharcoal bed 33 substantially fills the space located between a pairoflongitudinally spaced baffle members 34, 35 each of which has aplurality of orifices to pass generated propellant gas to the hollow gasrod 37 as will be described from the burning propellant body Elli thathad been ignited by the initiator actuated igniter 311.

Hollow gas rod 37 has an externally threaded rearward end which issecured against a blow-out or rup ture disc 36 in the forwardly openinghub portion 38 of the centrally-apertured support member 39. Supportmember 39 carries a peripheral O-ring seal ill and has a rearwardlyopening recess larger than its central passage to accommodate or seatwith a press fit the plurally orificed plate or ring 4i. A ring-shapedor annular spacer 42 is positioned intermediate baffle plate 35 andsupport member 39. The hollow gas rod 37 has a plurality oflongitudinally spaced groups of peripherally spaced lateral openings 44,45, d6, 47 and between each pair of adjacent groups is positioned aplurally apertured annular baffle plate 48, 49, 50. The baffle plates48, W, 50 on assembly are positioned by appropriate rings and definerespective compartments each containing a coolant of ammonium carbonate511, 52, 53 and a forwardmost compartment that is substantially filledwith a gas filtering anhydros body 54 of DRlERlTE for absorption ofwater from the substan tially cooled gases passing from the lateralopenings in hollow rod 37 through the sintered filter unit 55. Filterunit 55 includes a sintered filter press-fitted on a plurally orificedmember 56 having a central passage therethrough and an externallythreaded hub portion 57 that is secured against rupture disc 59 which isseated in the end cap 13.. Rearwardly extending segmental protrusions 58integral with member 56 function as a spacer with lateral passages. Setscrew or threaded plug fill is secured in the forward end of the hollowgas rod 3'7 to seal off or preclude gases entering the filter 55 withouthaving passed through the anhydros body 54.

End cap l3 has a forwardly opening hub portion 62 that is internallythreaded for securement of the mating external threads on thecylindrical tubular portion 63 of deflector 64 that is located withinand spaced from deflector tube 7% and has a closed forward end wall 65which includes a radial extension or outwardly directed annula flange6b. The deflector tubular portion 63 has a plurality of lateral passages67' rearwardly adjacent flange 66 for directing cooled propellant gastoward the internal surface of deflector tube 70 that has inwardlydirected rearmost flange means 71 containing appropriate apertures forscrews '72 that secure the deflector tube to the end cap l3. Cooledpropellant gas is thus delivered through deflector tube 70 forwardlythrough the parawing portion 21 of the inflatable paraglider.

Air valve '75 has depressible valve stem (not shown) for deflating theparaglider when desired. Threadedly mounted in head cap i2 is anexcessive pressure relief unit '76, containing a suitable rupture disc,to automatically exhaust pressure gas from propellant tube ill should anemergency occur. Sealing gasket 77 seals the connection of the head cap12 with the mounting bracket lid and pressure relief unit 76.Appropriate O- ring seals '78, '79, 8b render the gas generating systemleak-proof.

Various modifications, changes or alterations may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In an inflating apparatus for an inflatable device havinglongitudinally spaced mounting brackets for securing a gas generatingtube in a predetermined flexible material portion of said inflatabledevice,

a centrally apertured head cap secured to the rearmost mounting bracketand containing a rearmost end portion of said tube,

an igniter in said tube rearmost end portion adjacent said head cap,said igniter being fired upon actuation of an initiator,

a centrally apertured propellant body in said tube forwardly adjacentsaid igniter,

a centrally apertured support member having an internally threadedforwardly opening hub portion and a peripheral O-ring seal in engagementwith a mid-length portion of said tube,

a charcoal bed intermediate said propellant body and support member, I

a longitudinally extending hollow gas rod secured in said support memberhub portion and having a plurality of longituidinally spaced groups ofperipherally spaced lateral openings,

an annular baffle member between a pair of each of said openings andextending laterally outward from said rod toward said tube and defininga plurality of annular compartments,

each of said compartments on the rearward side of each baffle beingsubstantially filled with a coolant of ammonium carbonate, theforwardmost compartment being substantially filled with a gas filteringanhydros body for absorption of water,

a plug secured in the forward end of said gas rod,

an end cap secured to the forward end of said tube and defining a wallof said forwardmost compartment, said end cap having a forwardly openinginternally threaded hub portion and a central passage in fluidcommunication with the interior of said end cap hub portion,

a filter unit secured in said end cap central passage and locatedadjacent said anhydros body and forward of said plug,

a deflector tube having inwardly extending rearmost flange means,

means securing said tube flange means against said end cap, and

a deflector secured in said end cap hub portion and located within andspaced from said deflector tube, said deflector having a hollow tubularportion terminating in a forwardmost closed end wall, said tubularportion having a plurality of lateral passages for directing cooledpropellant gas toward the internal surface of said deflector tube.

2. The structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said bafflemembers has a plurality of openings to fluidly communicate eachcompartment with each adjacent compartment.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein an annular spacer is locatedintermediate said support member and said charcoal bed.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said charcoal bed includes a pair oflongitudinally spaced plurally orificed baffle members and loose coconutcharcoal substantially filling the space therebetween.

5. The structure according to claim 4 wherein a plurally orificed ringis positioned in a rearward surface of said support member and extendsacross its central aperture.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said deflector had an outwardlydirected annular flange extending radially toward said deflector tube,said deflector tube being located forwardly adjacent said deflectorlateral passages.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein a protective cone is secured to saidrearmost mounting bracket, and an initiator is secured in the centralaperture of said head cap.

8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein clamp means surround eachof said mounting brackets and secure therebetween respective portions ofsaid inflatable device flexible material.

1. In an inflating apparatus for an inflatable device havinglongitudinally spaced mounting brackets for securing a gas generatingtube in a predetermined flexible material portion of said inflatabledevice, a centrally apertured Head cap secured to the rearmost mountingbracket and containing a rearmost end portion of said tube, an igniterin said tube rearmost end portion adjacent said head cap, said igniterbeing fired upon actuation of an initiator, a centrally aperturedpropellant body in said tube forwardly adjacent said igniter, acentrally apertured support member having an internally threadedforwardly opening hub portion and a peripheral O-ring seal in engagementwith a mid-length portion of said tube, a charcoal bed intermediate saidpropellant body and support member, a longitudinally extending hollowgas rod secured in said support member hub portion and having aplurality of longituidinally spaced groups of peripherally spacedlateral openings, an annular baffle member between a pair of each ofsaid openings and extending laterally outward from said rod toward saidtube and defining a plurality of annular compartments, each of saidcompartments on the rearward side of each baffle being substantiallyfilled with a coolant of ammonium carbonate, the forwardmost compartmentbeing substantially filled with a gas filtering anhydros body forabsorption of water, a plug secured in the forward end of said gas rod,an end cap secured to the forward end of said tube and defining a wallof said forwardmost compartment, said end cap having a forwardly openinginternally threaded hub portion and a central passage in fluidcommunication with the interior of said end cap hub portion, a filterunit secured in said end cap central passage and located adjacent saidanhydros body and forward of said plug, a deflector tube having inwardlyextending rearmost flange means, means securing said tube flange meansagainst said end cap, and a deflector secured in said end cap hubportion and located within and spaced from said deflector tube, saiddeflector having a hollow tubular portion terminating in a forwardmostclosed end wall, said tubular portion having a plurality of lateralpassages for directing cooled propellant gas toward the internal surfaceof said deflector tube.
 2. The structure in accordance with claim 1wherein each of said baffle members has a plurality of openings tofluidly communicate each compartment with each adjacent compartment. 3.The structure of claim 2 wherein an annular spacer is locatedintermediate said support member and said charcoal bed.
 4. The structureof claim 3 wherein said charcoal bed includes a pair of longitudinallyspaced plurally orificed baffle members and loose coconut charcoalsubstantially filling the space therebetween.
 5. The structure accordingto claim 4 wherein a plurally orificed ring is positioned in a rearwardsurface of said support member and extends across its central aperture.6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said deflector had an outwardlydirected annular flange extending radially toward said deflector tube,said deflector tube being located forwardly adjacent said deflectorlateral passages.
 7. The structure of claim 6 wherein a protective coneis secured to said rearmost mounting bracket, and an initiator issecured in the central aperture of said head cap.
 8. The structureaccording to claim 7 wherein clamp means surround each of said mountingbrackets and secure therebetween respective portions of said inflatabledevice flexible material.